33 athletes launch into Bald Eagle Lake for open-water swim

Steamboat Springs  With the water temperature finally making it into the low 60s, 33 local swimmers decided it was time to hit the open water Monday night to race at Bald Eagle Lake.

Members of the Old Town Hot Springs’ aquatics staff organized the half-mile and one-mile, open-water swim races as a way for local triathletes to prepare for two upcoming local races.

Aquatics Director Jill Ruppel said she thought this was the first time open-water swim races had been offered in Steamboat.

“I kind of think this is a first just because everything else is attached to a triathlon,” Ruppel said.

Native Excavating owner Ed MacArthur donated his time and use of his water ski lake for the event.

This was the second of a two-race series. The first race had to be canceled because the water temperature wasn’t getting above the lower 50s. Monday’s race was questionable midday as lightning and hail pummeled parts of Steamboat, but the skies cleared in time.

“I thought the event was fabulous,” Ruppel said.

About half of the participants were those training in the triathlon club at the Hot Springs.

Ruppel said she was most pleased to see the less experienced swimmers accomplishing their goals alongside longtime swimmers. For some, the race provided a boost of confidence before the inaugural Steamboat Lake Sprint Triathlon on July 24. The longer Steamboat Olympic-distance race is Aug. 28 at Lake Catamount.

The men’s winner for Monday’s mile-long (or thereabouts) race was Scott Weir with a time of 17 minutes, 10 seconds. Weir swam in college at the University of Michigan and said he swims today to stay fit.

Steamboat Team Lightning swim team coach Essi Kenttala, a former competitor on Finland’s national swim team, raced in open water for the first time and won the women’s division in 18 minutes, 42 seconds.

On the half-mile course, Kristin Bantle and Gail Garey tied in the women’s division with a time of 13:35 John Holland was first for the men with a time of 17:01.